Canada - LMIA
Canadian employers are required to obtain a document from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)/Service Canada stating that they can hire the temporary worker. This is known as a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) gives an employer permission to hire a temporary foreign worker. It shows that there is a need for a foreign worker to fill the job and no Canadian worker is available to do the job.
LMIA based work permit is a two-step application process. The first step is to apply for an LMIA to Service Canada. The purpose of the LMIA is to make sure that foreign workers are not being chosen over Canadian citizens and/or permanent residents those are qualified for the job. Positive LMIA determines that hiring foreign nationals in the specified occupation and at the specified work location is likely to have a positive or neutral impact on the Canadian labour market.
The second step is to apply for a work permit once an employer has obtained a positive LMIA from Service Canada.
Work permits based on skill types
Skilled Work Permits
Skilled work permits are obtained in an occupation under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) skill level 0, A or B. Generally, for skilled work permits, applicant need to have 1-3 years of experience depending upon the occupation and in certain cases only relevant education can fulfill the job requirements. Applicants also need to prove their English or French language skills to meet the job requirements.
Semi-Skilled work permits
Semi-Skilled work permits are obtained in an occupation under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) skill level C & D. Semi-Skilled work permits require maximum of high school education or job specific training. Applicants also need to prove their English or French language skills to meet the job requirements.
Semi-Skilled work permits under agriculture stream generally do not require any specific language skills, education, and experience. You still need to meet all general eligibility requirements for work permit.
Under low skilled work permits, generally employers pay return airfare, ensure that affordable and suitable accommodation is available, provide temporary medical insurance coverage, register workers with provincial workplace safety insurance plans, sign an employer-employee contract.